Mile 20 Report
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
August 30, 2007
We were invited to walk the Crook Point beach with David Ledig, South Coast Refuge Manager, and other USFW volunteers.
Report Details
We were invited to walk the Crook Point beach with David Ledig, South Coast Refuge Manager, and other USFW volunteers. There were many Gray Whales feeding among the kelp and off-shore rocks. A live, but underweight California Sea Lion with a fish tag out of his mouth was on the beach. A portion of a skull and lower jaw of a juvenile Harbor Porpoise and an older carcass of a dead Salmon Shark was found on the beach. We did see a few carcasses of Common Murre both adult and chicks but the number seemed normal considering that the off shore rocks are home to nesting colonies of these birds. Kelp/algae, shells, animal casing, wood pieces and ocean based debris in the driftline. One large piece of Broad-rib Kelp- Pleurophycus gardneri (brown)—wide midrib found in driftline. One large fish or crab plastic container on the beach.
Conditions
Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light.
Notable Wildlife
Gray whaleswith calves were feeding off shore. Live California Sea Lion with a fishing lure in his mouth. Broad-rib Kelp- Pleurophycus gardneri (brown algae)—wide midrib and Sea Palm, Postelsia palmaeformis (brown algae) found in driftline.
Beached Birds
A couple of dead Common Murre, both adults and chicks, on the beach. Nearby rocks are nesting areas of this bird and so the number of carcasses seemed normal.
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 1. Juvenile Harbor Porpoise upper skull and portion of a jaw.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
1 older dead carcass of a Salmon Shark
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Wood pieces. One large fish or crab plastic container.
Actions & Comments
Filed stranding reports on the live California Sea Lion and Harbor Porpoise. Sent information to Dr. Daryl Parkyn on the dead Salmon Shark.
Report Images
D Bilderback
CoastWatcher
All Mile 20 Reports
Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
One person and two dogs were seen on the beach.
D Bilderback
Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
Except for one small heavy patch of drift, the driftline was sparse with kelp/algae, Leather Bryozoa and crab carapaces.
D Bilderback
Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
The driftline was absent except for two localized areas with terrestrial-derived leaves, mosses, wood pieces, some shredded blades of Pterygophora(Old Growth Kelp) and a few invertebrates and other algae and kelp.
D Bilderback
Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
Peregrine Falcon resting on south end of Saddle Rock.
D Bilderback
Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
Light driftline with 12 different genera of kelp and algae, terrestrial mosses, Leather Bryozoa (Flustrellidra corniculata), the flowering plant, Phyllospadix (Seagrass) and small rocks.
D Bilderback
Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
Three boats seen drifting very close to offshore rocks.
D Bilderback
Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
The south beach lacked driftline and sand has accumulated around the drift logs and over the large rocks at the base of the headland.
D Bilderback
Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
The driftline was light on the southern and northern portions of the beach but heavy on the middle portion of the beach with large amounts of kelp/algae and forest duff.
D Bilderback